A propane generator is a reliable way to keep your home powered during an outage, but selecting the right one depends on several factors. Here’s how to make the best choice and find a contractor you can trust.
The first step is figuring out which appliances you’ll want to power. Do you need to run your entire home or just essentials like the refrigerator, lights and heating system? Each appliance requires a specific wattage to run, and even more at startup—typically three times the operating wattage. Your appliance manuals will have the wattage requirements, or check this convenient guide from the Energy & Propane Gas Association, which offers typical averages for household appliances.
Here’s a helpful method to determine the minimum wattage generator you’ll need:
Many online generator sizing tools can help calculate the size needed for your application, but getting the sizing right is crucial—an oversized generator wastes fuel, while one that’s too small risks overloading and failure.
Switching to propane appliances such as a tankless water heater or gas range can significantly reduce the generator size you need. Propane appliances require less energy at startup compared to electric models, so your generator doesn’t need to work as hard to power your essentials during an outage. This allows you to opt for a smaller, more affordable unit that uses less fuel.
To ensure your propane generator has enough fuel to operate during an outage, SmartLink remote tank monitoring is the perfect solution. This device lets you track fuel levels from your smartphone, giving you peace of mind that your unit is ready when you need it.
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